Jose Mourinho’s return has already given Real Madrid a sharper edge, a cleaner shape, and a far more ruthless feel. Three league matches into the 2026/27 season, the club has a perfect nine points, a place at the top of the table, and a sense that the old winning standard is being restored rather than merely discussed.
That matters because this is not just an early-season spike. It is the first time Mourinho has opened a Real Madrid league campaign with three straight wins, and it has happened in a way that hints at something more durable than a hot streak.
A Start Built on Control and Clarity
Real Madrid’s opening run has been measured, yet emphatic. The team began with a gritty 2-1 away win over Espanyol, followed that with a convincing 4-1 home result against Real Sociedad, and then sealed the week with a dominant 4-0 victory over Malaga at the Bernabeu.
The Malaga match may have been the clearest sign that the new set-up is beginning to settle. Madrid did not merely win; they controlled the game from the first phases of possession to the final whistle, and they did so without allowing a goal.
- Jude Bellingham struck first in the 19th minute.
- Bellingham then forced an own goal seven minutes later to double the lead.
- Kylian Mbappe added the third, stretching the game beyond Malaga’s reach.
- Arda Guler, fed by Vinicius Junior, completed the scoring in style.
There is a useful simplicity to this version of Madrid. The team looks less cluttered in attack, more organised without the ball, and far more certain about where the decisive moments should come from.
Why This Opening Run Feels Different
Mourinho’s first spell in charge delivered plenty of noise, momentum, and big results, but not this exact kind of opening. Across his original three seasons in Madrid, he never managed to begin a league campaign with three straight wins. The current start is therefore not only his best opening at the club; it is also the most balanced one.
- 2010/11: 2 wins, 1 draw, 7 points
- 2011/12: 2 wins, 1 loss, 6 points
- 2012/13: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, 4 points
- 2026/27: 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, 9 points
The sample size is still small, and the Premier League-style temptation to crown any August leader is always dangerous. Even so, the contrast with Mourinho’s earlier Madrid tenure is striking. This time, the opening stretch has combined control, balance, and defensive discipline in a way that his first team never quite sustained so early.
In a club environment where patience is scarce and expectations are relentless, that kind of start changes the tone around everything. It does not settle the season, but it does create trust.
The Summer Spend Has a Clear Purpose
Madrid’s summer rebuild was not cosmetic. The club invested close to £200 million around Mourinho, and the signings suggest a plan rather than a shopping spree. Each addition appears aimed at fixing a specific weakness and giving the manager more reliable pieces in key areas.
- Marc Cucurella arrived from Chelsea for about £52 million and gave the left side greater balance in his first official start against Malaga.
- Denzel Dumfries came in from Inter Milan and offers a more aggressive outlet on the right.
- Ibrahima Konate joined on a free transfer from Liverpool to strengthen the centre of defence.
- Bernardo Silva, another free signing, brought elite passing quality and calm decision-making from his years at Manchester City.
That recruitment pattern suggests a club trying to rebuild structure as much as star power. Mourinho rarely works best with vague pieces; he prefers players who understand roles quickly, defend with discipline, and make attacking transitions cleaner. This squad looks built for that demand.
Bellingham’s New Position Changes the Picture
The most important tactical shift may be the one that allows Bellingham to operate in the pocket behind Vinicius Junior and Mbappe. Instead of asking him to compete for the same forward spaces, Madrid are placing him where he can connect play, arrive late, and decide matches from a central lane.
That arrangement does several things at once. It gives the two wide forwards more room to attack depth, keeps Bellingham closer to the ball, and creates a more natural rhythm between midfield and the final third. When it works, Madrid should look less forced and more efficient.
It also reduces the need for constant improvisation. Rather than asking three elite attackers to solve the same problem at once, Mourinho has split the responsibilities across the pitch. That makes the team easier to read internally, even if it becomes harder for opponents to contain.
Early Signs, Not Final Answers
Mourinho is not pretending that three wins solve anything. After a preseason victory over Deportivo, he kept the focus on the next phase rather than the praise already building around him. He pointedly reminded everyone that the serious work was still ahead.
That caution fits the manager’s reputation. He has never been one to celebrate a promising stretch as if it were proof of a completed project. At Real Madrid, that mindset matters even more. The club has gone two seasons without a major trophy, and a strong start only becomes meaningful if it survives the first real test of pressure.
Still, the broader message is hard to miss. Mourinho has returned to Madrid with a team that looks more coherent, more tailored to his ideas, and more capable of sustaining control over matches. The old edge is back, and for now, it looks as if Real Madrid are once again behaving like Real Madrid.